McGrigor helps Ross-shire crofter bring petition to Parliament.

Jamie McGrigor MSP is helping Glenelg crofter Farquhar Macbeath bring forward a petition to the Scottish Parliament to allow crofters and farmers to defend their livestock against injury or death caused by predators.

Speaking today Jamie McGrigor said:

" Mr Macbeath has worked hard all his life and brought up his children on the croft in Glenelg but he believes predation by foxes and lately sea eagles has decimated his stock and he has been left with very little after a lifetime's hard work. I wrote to Richard Lochhead asking what Scottish Ministers as landlords for Mr Macbeath were prepared to do about the predation problem on his livestock. They replied saying that predator control was best left to individual crofters to do what they wanted. That is all very well with foxes but what is a crofter or farmer supposed to do if he sees a sea eagle killing his lambs? Just wave nicely and say 'enjoy!' The petition will ask the Parliament to bring forward measures to allow crofters and farmers to defend and protect their livestock against all predators; that seems only fair to people who farm at the edge in our remote areas.

“ I have the backing of John Farquhar Monro and I have put the question of sea eagles on the agenda of the next Parliament Cross Party Group on Crofting. Last year I attended the packed public meeting at Poolewe where much feeling on this subject was passionately articulated by many. The Minister for the Environment wrote to me saying that the results of the survey on predation by sea eagles which was commissioned in the Gairloch area following that meeting would be published in December. However, it appears that people already have copies so what on earth is she talking about? The Scottish Government must be made to take this issue seriously because young livestock in the Highlands & Islands is being predated on with no recourse to the people to whom they belong. I congratulate Mr Macbeath on being brave enough to take this forward.”

ENDs…

For all further information, please call Jamie's office on 0131 348 5616

Douglas W. Pattullo
Parliamentary Aide to Jamie McGrigor MSP
Tel: 0131 348 5616
Fax: 0131 348 5656
Mob: 07765 470 109
http://www.jamiemcgrigormsp.com

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